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plain issue of marching toward the light of civilization with
Ohio and Illinois； but the State of Boone and Hardin and Henry
Clay； with a nigger under each arm； took the black trail toward
the deadly swamps of barbarism。 Is therecan there beany
doubt about this thing？ And is there any doubt that we must all
lay aside our prejudices and march； shoulder to shoulder； in the
great army of Freedom？ ＇Applause。＇
Every Fourth of July our young orators all proclaim this to be
〃the land of the free and the home of the brave！〃 Well； now； when
you orators get that off next year； and； may be； this very year；
how would you like some old grizzled farmer to get up in the
grove and deny it？ ＇Laughter。＇ How would you like that？ But
suppose Kansas comes in as a slave State； and all the 〃border
ruffians〃 have barbecues about it； and free…State men come
trailing back to the dishonored North； like whipped dogs with
their tails between their legs； it isain't it ？evident that
this is no more the 〃land of the free〃； and if we let it go so；
we won't dare to say 〃home of the brave〃 out loud。 ＇Sensation
and confusion。＇
Can any man doubt that； even in spite of the people's will；
slavery will triumph through violence； unless that will be made
manifest and enforced？ Even Governor Reeder claimed at the
outset that the contest in Kansas was to be fair； but he got his
eyes open at last； and I believe that； as a result of this moral
and physical violence； Kansas will soon apply for admission as a
slave State。 And yet we can't mistake that the people don't want
it so； and that it is a land which is free both by natural and
political law。 No law； is free law！ Such is the understanding of
all Christendom。 In the Somerset case； decided nearly a century
ago； the great Lord Mansfield held that slavery was of such a
nature that it must take its rise in positive （as distinguished
from natural） law； and that in no country or age could it be
traced back to any other source。 Will some one please tell me
where is the positive law that establishes slavery in Kansas？ ＇A
voice： 〃The bogus laws。〃＇ Aye； the bogus laws！ And； on the same
principle； a gang of Missouri horse…thieves could come into
Illinois and declare horse…stealing to be legal ＇Laughter＇； and
it would be just as legal as slavery is in Kansas。 But by
express statute； in the land of Washington and Jefferson； we may
soon be brought face to face with the discreditable fact of
showing to the world by our acts that we prefer slavery to
freedomdarkness to light！ ＇Sensation。＇
It is； I believe； a principle in law that when one party to a
contract violates it so grossly as to chiefly destroy the object
for which it is made； the other party may rescind it。 I will ask
Browning if that ain't good law。 ＇Voices： Yes！〃＇ Well； now if
that be right； I go for rescinding the whole； entire Missouri
Compromise and thus turning Missouri into a free State； and I
should like to know the differenceshould like for any one to
point out the differencebetween our making a free State of
Missouri and their making a slave State of Kansas。 ＇Great
applause。＇ There ain't one bit of difference； except that our way
would be a great mercy to humanity。 But I have never said； and
the Whig party has never said； and those who oppose the Nebraska
Bill do not as a body say； that they have any intention of
interfering with slavery in the slave States。 Our platform says
just the contrary。 We allow slavery to exist in the slave
States； not because slavery is right or good； but from the
necessities of our Union。 We grant a fugitive slave law because
it is so 〃nominated in the bond〃； because our fathers so
stipu1atedhad toand we are bound to carry out this agreement。
But they did not agree to introduce slavery in regions where it
did not previously exist。 On the contrary； they said by their
example and teachings that they did not deem it expedientdid
n't consider it rightto do so； and it is wise and
right to do just as they did about it。 ＇Voices： 〃Good！〃＇ And
that it what we proposenot to interfere with slavery where it
exists （we have never tried to do it）； and to give them a
reasonable and efficient fugitive slave law。 ＇A voice： 〃No！〃＇ I
say YES！ ＇Applause。＇ It was part of the bargain； and I 'm for
living up to it； but I go no further； I'm not bound to do more；
and I won't agree any further。 ＇Great applause。＇
We； here in Illinois； should feel especially proud of the
provision of the Missouri Compromise excluding slavery from what
is now Kansas； for an Illinois man； Jesse B。 Thomas； was its
father。 Henry Clay； who is credited with the authorship of the
Compromise in general terms； did not even vote for that
provision； but only advocated the ultimate admission by a second
compromise； and Thomas was； beyond all controversy； the real
author of the 〃slavery restriction〃 branch of the Compromise。 To
show the generosity of the Northern members toward the Southern
side： on a test vote to exclude slavery from Missouri； ninety
voted not to exclude； and eighty…seven to exclude； every vote
from the slave States being ranged with the former and fourteen
votes from the free States； of whom seven were from New England
alone； while on a vote to exclude slavery from what is now
Kansas； the vote was one hundred and thirty…four for； to forty…
two against。 The scheme； as a whole； was； of course； a Southern
triumph。 It is idle to contend otherwise； as is now being done
by the Nebraskites； it was so shown by the votes and quite as
emphatically by the expressions of representative men。 Mr。
Lowndes of South Carolina was never known to commit a political
mistake； his was the great judgment of that section； and he
declared that this measure 〃would restore tranquillity to the
countrya result demanded by every consideration of discretion；
of moderation； of wisdom； and of virtue。〃 When the measure came
before President Monroe for his approval； he put to each member
of his cabinet this question： 〃Has Congress the constitutional
power to prohibit slavery in a Territory？〃 And John C。 Calhoun
and William H。 Crawford from the South； equally with John Quincy
Adams； Benjamin Rush； and Smith Thompson from the North； alike
answered； 〃Yes！〃 without qualification or equivocation； and this
measure； of so great consequence to the South； was passed； and
Missouri was； by means of it； finally enabled to knock at the
door of the Republic for an open passage to its brood of slaves。
And； in spite of this； Freedom's share is about to be taken by
violenceby the force of misrepresentative votes； not called for
by the popular will。 What name can I； in common decency； give to
this wicked transaction？ ＇Sensation。＇
But even then the contest was not over； for when the Missouri
constitution came before Congress for its approval； it forbade
any free negro or mulatto from entering the State。 In short； our
Illinois 〃black 1aws〃 were hidd